STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2126

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2518

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2518 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ASSAULT AGAINST LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Include recklessly causing serious or substantial bodily injury to a law enforcement officer engaged in the performance of duty as an assault against a law enforcement officer in the first degree; and

(2) Increase penalties for the offense of assault against a law enforcement officer in the first degree.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of the Attorney General, Department of Law Enforcement, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Maui, Maui Police Department, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Hawaii, and seventeen individuals.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Office of the Public Defender and seven individuals.

Your Committee finds that law enforcement officers frequently encounter dangerous situations while maintaining public safety. These already dangerous situations are exacerbated by individuals who either deliberately or recklessly cause harm to officers while those officers are performing their law enforcement duties. Such individuals not only pose a danger to law enforcement officers, but also threaten the public by inhibiting law enforcement officers' ability to perform important public safety functions. This threat of harm to law enforcement officers contributes to ongoing recruitment and retention challenges in the State. By increasing penalties for causing harm to law enforcement officers, this measure promotes public safety by providing additional tools to deter and punish potential offenders.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2518 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs,

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CAROL FUKUNAGA, Chair